Patient Comforts

Nitrous Oxide

In our South Tempe office, we administer nitrous oxide (or, laughing gas) to enhance patient comfort and relieve anxiety for patients of all ages. After you’re comfortably seated in the dental chair, you’ll inhale the gas (a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture) through a face mask. We will control the amount of nitrous you receive to ensure your safety. You will begin to relax and will not recognize pain, so the dentist can perform your dental work while you stay completely comfortable. The effects of laughing gas subside once we remove your mask, so if nitrous is the only anesthesia you receive, you will be capable of driving yourself home following the visit and can continue your daily activities as normal.

Oral Sedation: Taking Fear Out of Dentistry

Among the most common phobias, visiting the dentist causes many people severe anxiety and stress. Often, fearful patients forego necessary dental care to avoid a visit to their dentist. If you find yourself feeling panicky at the thought of having your teeth worked on, you should know that a safe, comfortable relaxation method exists. Oral sedation alleviates anxiety, so you can face dental appointments with confidence.

What exactly does oral sedation entail?

If you fear dental appointments, call Tempe Smiles to determine if oral sedation is available for you based on your medical history and current medications. If you’re a good candidate for oral sedation, the dentist will select an appropriate anti-anxiety or sedative drug for you to take at a pre-determined time before your appointment. These safe, widely-prescribed drugs diminish anxiety and help patients relax.

Your anxiety level will help the dentist determine dosage, which in turn determines your consciousness level during the appointment. Some patients become so relaxed they drift off into a restful sleep during their dental procedures. Throughout your appointment, we will closely monitor your vital signs to ensure your safety. When you choose oral sedation, you must have a responsible adult who can drive you to and from your appointment and spend some time with you after the appointment until the sedative wears off completely.

Why choose oral sedation?

In general, patients choose oral sedation if they:

•experience severe anxiety and fear when faced with dental instruments
•put off important dental treatment because of fear
•have a sensitive gag reflex
•have trouble feeling numb after receiving local anesthetic
•cannot rest comfortably in a dentist’s exam chair due to neck or back problems
What risks and side effects are associated with oral sedation?
The anti-anxiety medications used to achieve sedation have been prescribed and studied for years, so potential side effects are widely documented. These drugs are generally safe for most patients and have a low incidence of side effects, which tend to be minor.

Typically, patients who receive sedation experience:

•Retrograde amnesia, in which they recall little to nothing about the dental procedure
•Decreased post-operative soreness
•Dry mouth
A very small percentage of patients may temporarily have hiccups after using the drugs.

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Appointment

When families in Tempe and surrounding areas want quality dental care for beautiful, healthy smiles, they turn toTempe Smiles Family Dental. As a full-service dental office, we offer a wide range of comprehensive dental services that includes general and family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry.

What’s more, with our commitment to using modern technology and contemporary clinical techniques, we can help your entire family enjoy comfortable and efficient treatment with every visit to our Tempe office.

Emergency Appointments Available

Call Tempe Smiles Family Dental today to schedule a checkup or consultation with one of our family dentists. We'll give you a beautiful, healthy smile. Saturday appointments available! We serve families in Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding areas with full-service dentistry, reasonably priced.